Letter to the Editor

Just when we thought it might be safe to return to the Chambers….I have written before complaining that people in Vallejo do not feel safe coming to City Council meetings because of the conduct which has been allowed to go on by a unruley mob which seem to have taken over the Chambers. I choose to stay at home and watch it or look at it on line so I can avoid the circus atmosphere.

Pot smoke, screaming people, statues, signs and threats on the outside, screaming people, boos, hissing and personal attacks on the inside!!! People who seem to have been worked up to a frenzy before they get there form a mob and if you do not agree with whatever their position is that week well then look out. The walk from your car to get into the meeting can feel intimidating and once inside it is not much better. First it was the Pot issue and then Orcem when I really started noticing the change in the make-up of the crowd and some are  just plain scary.

I was encouraged when I read that Jumpstart Vallejo was taking on the issue and they had demanded from the Council and staff that a code of conduct be established so that everyone can feel safe if they decide to come to the Council Meetings. Code of conduct was even moved to a tier one priority at goal setting when a majority of the Council Members agreed that it was a problem. I then saw emails from Jumpstart Vallejo (thank you!) to the City Manager requesting an orderly process for running the Orcem appeal meeting last Tuesday and Thursday.

Judging from the replay of Tuesday’s meeting and an article in the paper it looks like the City listened to Jumpstart and a quick and orderly process was established for entering the chambers, getting speakers cards and keeping order. There was a Police presence instead of the security guards who are unarmed and for the most part very young. What a great start!!! It still did not make me feel like returning yet, especially after reading some of the hate talk I see in the blogs and evenin the Times Herald. Even with the police presence I had a friend that was spit on and cussed at so I will continue to write and watch at home and not risk my safety.

I am sure that the four courageous Council Members who voted to certify the EIR Thursday were glad the City staff listened!!! I saw video of after they voted and this mob of Nay Sayers went nuts, screaming insults, threatening recall and storming the dais forcing the police to form a protective ring around council.

Thank you Council Members  Sunga, Verder-Aliga, Dew-Costa and Malgapo for your standing up to this angry mob and listening to and representing the other 99% of the citizens with your vote to seek facts.

And to Mayor Sampayan and Council Members Meissner and McConnell, these people are your supporters so act like leaders and control them or at least stop egging them on from the dais. At the very least condemn their activities. Don’t wait until someone takes it too far and Vallejo becomes another tragic lead story on the nightly news.

 Lisa Logoteta

Vallejo, CA